What Are Some Ways To Kill A Skunk In The Yard?

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There are several problems that can be caused by a skunk that is repeatedly finding its way into your yard, and these can range from it stealing food from fruit plants and vegetable beds through to tearing open garbage bags and pet food sacks to find food. It is also worth considering what a skunk can do if it comes into contact with a domestic animal in terms of transmitting disease and fighting with a cat or dog. Seeing a skunk in your yard is not something that you should leave without a response, and there are several different ways you can use to kill the animal, and some alternatives too.



Shoot It With A Rifle

If you live in a rural area where you can discharge a firearm without any chance of coming into contact with a neighbor legally, then shooting the skunk is a good option. As they are active at dawn and dusk, you may need to be patient and lay in wait for the animal, but if you are a good shot and can hit it in the head from a relatively short distance, then this will often help you to kill the skunk quickly.

Lethal Traps

Another way that can be used to kill the skunk in a fairly efficient way is to use a lethal trap, and there are some large, and fairly dangerous snap traps that can kill a skunk quickly, while snare traps can also be used by an experienced trapper. Beware with this approach that you may kill other domestic animals, while you should also be checking your traps regularly to ensure that you do not leave an animal in pain over an extended period.

Poison

This is one method that should always be avoided, as poison is an indiscriminate killer, and it is just as likely to cause harm to other animals in the area or even children, rather than killing the skunk. This method also has a greater effect on the biology of the area around your home.

Alternatives To Killing A Problem Skunk

If you are genuinely looking for an alternative to killing a skunk that is coming to your yard, then one of the best ways is to install a new fence embedded a few inches to the ground that will repel the creature, as skunks are notoriously bad climbers and will be stumped by the fence. For more persistent skunks, trapping and removal can get rid of the problem without forcing you to deal with the unpleasant skunk carcass. For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How much does skunk removal cost? - get the lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of skunks - my main skunk removal info guide.